Collar stiffener



June 30, 1953, ,'A, ARMSTRONG 2,643,387

COLLAR STIFFENER Filed Jan. 20, 1951 a0 FIE. 2.

INVENTOR. fimes ANDREW ARMSTRONG BY "Patented June 30, 1953 2,643,387 coLLAR STIFFENER James Andrew Armstrong, Randwick, New

South Wales, Australia Application January 20, 1951, Serial No. 206,981 In Australia August 8, 1950 This invention relates to means for stiffening and retaining the form or shape and desirable alignment at the front and peaked portions of soft and semi-stiff collars of shirts and the like.

Hitherto there have been many devices produced for the abovementioned purpose, certain being of spring wire formed for insertion in the collar ends usually in the end herns of the collar flap. Pockets or recesses have also been formed in the collar flaps to receive stiffening strips and the like. These known means have not been entirely satisfactory for theirpurpose due to many reasons, as for example, clumsy construction, rigidity, awkward to fit and limited to location in application, and tendency to form lines and increase bulk in the parts in which they are embodied.

The present invention has been specially devised to provide collar stiffening and form retaining means of simple, inexpensive and durable construction, which can be readily mass produced, and there are no spring or wearing parts embodied, and the disabilities in relation to known forms of this kind as above enumerated are obviated. This stiffening and form retaining means is not limited to location of insertion in the end seams of the collar flap, but can be inserted where desired, can be bent to keep the ends of the collar flaps at a desired shaping, do not tend to turn and remain located, or form lines or ridges, and can be easily placed in position, removed and reinserted, and no special collar construction is required. Other advantages are also presented which will be apparent from the description hereinafter set forth.

According to this invention, the collar stiffener consists of a pin-like member formed of suitable flexible and'pliable material having at one end a portion of substantially round cross section extending along the stem for a comparatively short distance, and having a pointed end, such described stem end being formed for effecting an entrance into the back of the material of the collar flap or fold, and forms the penetration portion. From this penetration portion, the pin stem extends as a flat sided member to occupy the major portion of the stem length, and at its end is formed into a head, preferably by bending such end portion out from the stem and then back on the underside, said head in its shaping, fitting under the line of the collar band and also acting as a stop to limit the extent of insertion movement.

In order to more fully describe the invention,

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-132) I reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows in elevation a collar stiffener according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of one form of collar end on the inside of the flap showing the stiffener applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 of a different type of collar end, while Figure 4 also of similar form, shows a varied application of the stiffener.

Figure 5 is an outside view of a collar with the fold ends shaped or formed to maintain a desired setting.

Figure 6 is a further view similar to Figure 2 of the stiffener applied to a collar formed of a single thickness of material.

The stiffener consists of a pin-like member formed of suitable material such as non-corrosive metal wire having a flexibility such that it can be conveniently bent to a shaping and will retain same during normal usage. Said member has a flat sided stem 12 extending at one end into a head I I shaped by turning outwardly at approximately right angles and bending over and back on the underside and stopping short of such stem.

The other end of the stem 12 is formed as a short length of round cross section shown at 16 leading to a pointed end l3. This length 16 forms the penetration portion. The cross section of the stem I2 and its head H are indicated by references M and Hi. This penetration portion 16 furnishes desirable rigidity for its purpose, and enables the pointed end l3 to be pressed through the collar material to make an aperture and on pressing the stiffener into place a channel or cavity leading from the entry aperture is easily formed to receive the pin stem 2. The flattened portion of this pin stem 12 enables the bending or shaping of the collar fold to be effected when the stifiener is placed in position and remains at a setting as now to be described.

In Figure 2 the point l3 having formed an entrance aperture I! or entered through such an aperture pre-formed, is shown located near the tip l8 of collar I9, the stem 12 being located between the layers of material and being restrained from forward movement by the front edge 20 of the collar [9 and from rearward movement by the stitching 2| which is the normal stitching utilized in this type of collar. The point i3 is restrained from further penetration into the collar I9 by the head I I being in contact with the aperture l1, and the head H is restrained from upward movement by fold 23 in the collar. Such head II can be adjusted, that is bent up or down to lie level with the fold of the neck band to suit any style of collar being worn, and when so adjusted stays in position, until again adjusted to suit another style of collar. This stifiener when in place, and correctly adjusted, keeps the collar in natural shape without any undue tension or strain, and its presence is not obvious. The stud hole 25 and inner fold 26 shown are those usually found in soft or semi-stiff collars which are detachable from the shirt.

In Figure 3 the use of the invention in ,a shirt collar which is stitched at the front edge 20 of collar peak l9 but in which there is no stitching such as is shown at 2| in Figure 2 to restrain the stem l2 from backward movement and hold the stiffener in correct alignment. In these circumstances, if the stiffener tends to move in the collar when normal entrance has been made, additional apertures Ho and I'll) may be made in the collar (9 and :the point 13 entering 'between the layers of material at aperture 1.1 emerges at Fla and re-enters at jllb until the head I I by contact with aperture 11 prevents further penetration into the collar I19.

The stem [2 and hence the bar 22 are thus held in firm alignment and by stiffening the front edge 20 tend to restrain the lower edge 24 .from distortion.

In the form shown in Figure 4 the stiffener is inserted by its stem 12 in a direction diagonally of the end of the collar fold and the point I 3 lies in the peak end and the head H is bent to fit under the collar fold line.

In the form shown in Figure the stem of stifiener is bent to form a curved alignment to accommodate a heavyrnecktie 32 and .a wearer who habitually wears this type of tie may leave the stiiieners in this shape and the collar edge 20 will then, on insertion of the pins, automatically assume a suitable alignment. The head I I lies in the fold 23 of collar [9, the stem l2 being bent as desired to pass over the bulge produced by the tie 32 and return to a position in close proximity to the front of theshirt 34.

Figure 6 illustrates the use of the invention 4 in a collar I! composed of a single layer of material turned over and stitched at edges 20 and 24. In this case the stiffener is inserted through aperture [1 and passes between the front edge 20 of the collar l9 where there are two layers of material and the stitching 33.

These stiffeners may be conveniently made in three sizes as for example, short, medium and long lengths and thereby suit a wide range of collar requirements. If the stiifeners should be damaged, as for example in laundering a collar, they, can be easily straightened out either by the fingers or tapping with a hammer or the like.

I claim: 7

A collar stiffener comprising in combination, a fiat substantially rectilinear stem portion consistinggof a pliable metal wire having a substantially rectangular cross section, the thickness of said flat substantially rectilinear stem portion being substantially smaller than the width there- Of; a pointed substantially rectilinear end portion forming one end of said flat stem portion, said pointed end portion having a substantially .circular cross section and a diameter being substantially larger than the thickness of said fiat substantially rectilinear stem portion so that the tubular space formed in the collar by said pointed end portion is suificient to accommodate said .flat substantially rectilinear stem portion without appreciable abutment and catching of the front edges of the flat stem portion by the collar fabric; and a head portion forming the other end of said fiat stem portion and having a substantially rectangular cross section, said head portion having a substantially rectilinear part including an angle of not less than with said portion and being adapted to lie in the fold of the collar to be stiffened.

JAMES ANDREW ARMSTRONG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,797,790 Patton Mar. 24, 1,931 2,564,008 Holt Aug. 14, 1951 

